The 3 Types of Snow Boards: and How to Choose the One for You!
Snow boards for everyone - which one is right for you?
There are several kinds of snow boards, and which snow boards are for you is dependant on a whole lot of things. Some things you don't have a whole lot of immediate choice about, like your weight, height and foot size.
But more importantly, your particular interests and riding style will determine what kind of snow board you'll use.
The Main Types of Snowboards
There are 3 main types of snow boards, each of which is made from unique construction techniques and materials, and each of varying degrees of stiffness or flexibility:
1. Freeride Snow Boards
Freeride snow boards are probably the most popular -- in fact, probably 50% of all snow board sales is the basic freeride board, simply because freeride snowboards are the ones to buy if you want to snow board downhill. Period. That basically means that they're designed to ride in one main direction.
Of course, freeride snow boards are ALSO good for catching air, and for the halfpipe. There are freeride snow boards that are flexible enough for beginners, and freeride snow boards that are stiff enough for racing.
2. Freestyle Snow Boards
Freestyle snow boards, on the other hand, are wider, shorter, and more stable than freeride boards, and they are the primary 'trick' boards you'll see in terrain parks and halfpipes. They are easier to turn, handle bumps better, and are designed to maximize spins, grabs and riding fakie. Freestyle boards are symmetrical, or 'twin-tipped.' Great snow boards for beginners!
3. Backcountry Snow Boards
Backcountry -- alpine or carving -- snow boards are long and narrow (like a large ski!), and they designed for the high speeds of racing and clean, carved and continuous turns, going downhill. Alpine boards are not usually a good idea for beginning riders.
These 3 types of snow boards are further divided into park/pipe boards, kid's boards, boardercross boards, and women's boards, each of them with different characteristics.
So you'll need to look at a lot of factors before you make a final comparison between all the types of snow boards that are available for you to buy!